Ready to take your family sessions (and confidence!) to the next level?
Ready to take your family sessions (and confidence!) to the next level?
- Authentic connections and story-telling
- Natural posing and styling ideas
- Fine-art, senior sessions, editing and so much more!
3 monthly payments of
$297
$99
single payment
Enroll Now →
Enroll Now →
USD
USD
Enjoy instant (and LIFETIME!) access!
Any of these sound familiar?
I know the vision I want to create, but my images are missing the 'wow' factor
I could use some guidance getting my clients to loosen up in front of the camera
I'm feeling a little uninspired with my work and are looking to change things up. But where to even start?
I love, love, LOVE refining my craft and I'm always curious about how other photographers work.
Then you're in the right place!
You love photographing families
- but keeping things fresh & inspired?
Maybe not so easy.
If that's you...I get it. Trust me...I REALLY get it.
But here's the truth - to avoid becoming a copycat of your favourite artist or having every session feel like the exact replica of your previous one, you need to seek out new sources of inspiration
—and this retreat can be the kickstart your need.
It's time for your images to shine.
Press play for a peek inside!
Get ready to immerse yourself in an experience that will inspire fresh ideas, light a creative fire in your heart, and take your family photos to a whole new level!
Enroll Now!
No need to book expensive airfare or hotels
"I love all the prompts and the way you set everyone up to capture real, in-the-moment emotions. "
— Rebecca
(...and what you'll be learning!)
Meet your instructors
Documentary-Style Family Stories
Join Amy behind the scenes as she photographs her own family. Learn what to document, how to be intentional, and what to do when you miss the moment.
Editing shown: Yes
Amy Dangerfield Photography
Lifestyle Family Sessions
Discover how to evoke real emotion and storytelling in your lifestyle sessions. Annie also shares her favorite editing tips to enhance the mood.
Editing shown: Yes
Annie Nelson Photography
Motherhood Sessions
Feel confident guiding outdoor motherhood sessions. Learn how to direct genuine emotion and edit for various lighting situations.
Editing shown: Yes
Aspen Dawn Photo
Emotive Couple Sessions
Think outside the box for your couples sessions. Learn how to capture connection and tell an authentic story as you watch Bailey interact in her session.
Editing shown: Yes
Grand Adventure Photography
Incorporating Animals
Discover how to add animals in conceptual or portrait sessions to add connection and meaning.
Editing shown: Yes
Beth Stahn Photography
The Art of Storytelling
From natural light and composition to directing families and editing for impact—this class sets you up for storytelling success.
Editing shown: Yes
Cally Petersen Photography
Photographing Teens
Get a toolbox full of prompts for teens, plus ways to manage reluctant participants and work with wide age gaps.
Editing shown: Yes
Christa Paustenbaugh Photography
Magical Fine-Art Editing
Learn to enhance outdoor sessions with fairytale-inspired edits for magical storytelling portraits.
Editing shown: Yes
Pastell Studio
Mixed Light Magic
Explore how to combine natural and artificial light in small spaces to create intimate, bedtime-inspired children’s portraits.
Editing shown: Yes
Fotografie Iwona Podlasinska
Storytelling at Home
Learn how to create emotive, story-driven images in any home. Follow Kim’s full lifestyle workflow from vision to edit.
Editing shown: Yes
Kim Hildebrand Photography
Children’s Fine-Art Portraits
Get tips on posing, lighting, styling, and editing fine-art children’s portraits—plus how to perfect skin and use dodge and burn.
Editing shown: Yes
Sweet Soul Studio
Sitter Sessions
See how Lisa styles simple studio setups for sweet sitter and cake smash sessions—without the bakery bill.
Editing shown: Yes
Milk & Honey Photography
Styled Family Sessions
Learn how to plan, style, and pose for a cohesive storytelling session, from wardrobe to edits.
Editing shown: Yes
DeVinny Photography
Storytelling Couple Posing
Watch Melissa’s storytelling approach to couples and get pose ideas you can easily add to family sessions.
Editing shown: No
MMB Photography, LLC
Urban Family Sessions
Get inspired to create unique, stand-out images in any urban setting with creative composition and strong storytelling.
Editing shown: Yes
Rebecca Hunnicutt Photography + Education
Confidently Pose & Sell Senior Boy Sessions (That Feel Fun)
Confidently pose and photograph senior boys in sessions that feel relaxed and fun, run engaging senior sessions specifically tailored for guys, and seamlessly integrate senior portraits into family sessions—creating irresistible UPSELLING opportunities that boost your sales effortlessly.
Editing shown: Yes
Renee Bowen Photography & Coaching
Creative Composition
Learn how to frame images with intention—focusing on composition, storytelling, and unique visual elements.
Editing shown: Yes
Robin Fox Photography
Styled Session:
Behind the Scenes + Edit
Explore Shannon’s styling approach and how to create genuine connection through guided interaction and direction.
Editing shown: Yes
Shannon McTighe Photography
In-Home Sessions
Master natural light, connection, and interest in the home. Tiffany shares her tips for organic, meaningful storytelling.
Editing shown: Yes
Animal House Photography
Outdoor Family Sessions
Join Valerie on a backlit family shoot and learn how to enhance the magic with thoughtful editing.
Editing shown: Yes
Valerie Eidson Photography
Family Retreat
2025 {online}
Let's do this!
3 monthly payments of
$297
$99
single payment
Sign up now →
Yes! I'm in →
USD
USD
Enjoy INSTANT access!
CHOOSE THE BEST OPTION FOR YOU
New to our Retreat?
It all happens online.
Get every lesson from every instructor—
ready with the click of a mouse any time you want to watch.
Learn on your schedule.
Prioritize what sounds interesting & exciting to you, move on to other tutorials when you’re ready for more.
Connect in Community
Teachers will be inside the Facebook group for 3 weeks to answer questions. After which, the group remains open until the 2026 retreat.
It's a safe + drama free place to grow!
Here's how it works.
~Marian
"I love being able to go back and reference so many different videos"
This for you if:
is
you love learning new techniques
YOu're excited to evolve your craft
you're ready to grow as an artist
It's probably for you if...
not
You're looking to become a Direct copycat
YOU'RE NOT WILLING TO try new things
YOU'RE Stuck on ONe way of doing things
"Investing in the retreat this year was a great decision, and I’m thrilled with the fresh ideas it’s given me."
— Stephanie, Past Retreater
Feel more confident and inspired in your work.
Discover new techniques to elevate your art.
Understand how to take your images from good to 'wow'
Learn ways to help your clients relax and capture authentic connections
SIGN ME UP! →
When I first got started with photography, I wanted to learn from others but I couldn't take time away from my family (and business) to travel to in-person events.
Plus...I found my brain could only absorb so much info before what I'm learning goes in one ear and out the other.
Can you relate?
That's why I created our online retreats, where you can learn on YOUR schedule - all from the comfort of home.
Over 28,700 students have experienced our online retreats + classes...
Will you be next?
You *could* pay a similar price for just ONE in-depth lesson …
Or, you can enjoy 20 ah-mazing classes that you can
revisit time & again as you need it in your business!
And with such a wide variety of talent joining us this year to teach, we don’t just get to witness how one person works; we get to see the process from a variety of different photographers.
Because there isn't just ONE way to do things
(and for that I'm grateful!)
If you want this to be the year that you really commit to:
Mastering your craft and elevating your art
Staying on top of current trends and pushing your artistic edge
Attracting your dream clients and sessions that truly light you up.
Streamlining your session workflow to free up time and ensure a consistent experience for clients
Discover new prompts to capture genuine interactions with your clients
Feeling inspired and excited to pick up your camera
SIGN ME UP! →
QUESTIONS
Do I HAVE to be online at a certain time?
No. You have lifetime access (plus you can download them to watch on the go!)
Can I download the videos?
Yes! Once your retreat experience has been paid in full (for those on the payment plan), you can download the videos so you have them for life. You'll also enjoy lifetime access to the videos on our member site.
Have another question? Email us at lisa@themilkyway.ca
ENROLL NOW →
*Is there a Facebook community for the retreat?
Yes. Teachers will be inside the Facebook group for 3 weeks once retreat gets underway May 29th. Conversations among fellow retreaters will continue after that. The group will be archived before the 2026 retreat gets underway.
Does this have captions? And/or subtitles?
Videos will have English captions.
How long are the videos?
Teacher videos will range from 30-60 minutes. Some will be video footage of the instructor in action showing specific posing and lighting techniques, while other topics will be presented in a slideshow or screen share format.
Is this professionally filmed?
Nope! In fact, each presenter will be creating/filming their own presentation which might be a slideshow presentation, a video of them in their office, studio or on location showing you a session, or a screen share where you can watch them edit.
How does the payment plan work?
If you opt for the payment plan, your first payment comes out at registration with following payments coming out automatically every 30 days. (using the same payment method as you used at sign-up).
You will have access to the retreat experience right away - however, the download links will not be activated until the final payment has been made.
Do you have a money-back guarantee?
Tickets are non-refundable. Just like an in-person conference, you go in knowing there are some sessions you are going to love and some that might not feel applicable to you. At the end of the day, you need to decide what you are looking for and if the sessions described fit what you need! You will have access to the retreat experience right away - however, the download links will not be activated until the final payment has been made.
Is there tax added?
If you have the good fortune of living in Canada, then yes, there will be GST and/or HST charged. If your business is registered, it is more of a 'paper shuffle' with the CRA vs added cost. If you don't have a business tax ID, we know tax can seem like a bummer, but think of all the wonderful things it provides....free healthcare tops our list!